Apparatus for elevating capped tubes or similar containers



Oct. 19, 1937. B. E. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING CAPPED TUBES OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS Fild Dec. 4, 1956 Illlllv Patented Oct. 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING CAPPED TUBES OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS Bror Emil Johnson, Alsten, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Gerh. Arehns Mekaniska Verk- .stad, a Swedish joint-stock company Application December 4, 1936, Serial No. 114,257 In Sweden December 14, 1935 5 Claims.

This invention relates toan apparatus for elevating capped tubes or similar containers into position for further treatment, for instance to be filled with paste or other material, or for turning. It is an object of my invention to provide means for for safely placing collapsible tubes onto a spout delivery thereto of paste, oil, etc. or into op- .erative position relative to a tube turning member without necessitating guides for the tube as .said means will automatically adjust the tube into proper position relative to the delivery spout turning member.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for safely removing collapsible tubes or like containers from the delivery spout or turning member even though the tube may have stuck to said spout or member.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for safe control of the withdrawal of collapsible tubes during their supply with material from a delivery spout enclosed by the tube.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for gripping tube caps having a large width and to permit the gripping means to move together with the tube upwards I thr With these and other objects in View the inough a comparatively narrow tube holder.

vention comprehends the construction as hereinafter described and illustrated by way of example the drawing.

In the drawing:-

Fig. l is an elevation partly in section of the apparatus, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the mechanism and a tube conveyor.

Referring to the drawing, showing by way of example the apparatus according to the invention used in a device for filling collapsible tubes,

the

shaped carriers I on empty tubes A which are inserted into sleeve a chain conveyor 2 are moved stepwise in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) one after another into position between a material delivery spout or pipe 3 and an elevator mechanism.

The elevator mechanism comprises a spindle 4 j on car rnalled shaft 9. The other arm ID of the lever ries an anti-friction roller M which rides upon acam disc I3 which is secured to a continuously revolving driving shaft I2. The roller 2I is pressed against the cam disc I3 by a tension spring II one end of which is connected to the lever arm II], and the other end to a guide I9 for the spindle 4.

The upper end of the spindle 4 and the button 5 are enclosed by a sleeve shaped holder I4 to which are secured two oppositely arranged hooks I5; The holder I4 is axially movable on the spindle 4 and has a widened bore I6 in which is inserted a contractile spring I'I. The spring I'I seats on a lower abutment I8 in the holder and an abutment formed on the button 5 so that the holder I4 will be resiliently pressed against the guide I9 when the spindle 4 is at the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The tube carriers I have longitudinal slots 22 and 23 which permit the hooks I5 to move longitudinally up and down therethrough. To support the tubes before elevating them the carriers I have a forked plate 20 between the legs of which the holder I4 together with the hooks I5 can move up and down. As the carriers I are slotted to form passages for the holder hooks I5 even tubes having caps of almost the same width as the tube can be lifted by the elevator mechanism, and this is an advantage in view of the fact that a wide tube cap can be more correctly gripped by the pincher formed by the hooks I5 and the button 5 than a small cap.

The tube A is moved sidewise so that its cap B enters the open pincher when the different parts of the mechanism are at the positions shown in Fig. l. Thereafter, the spindle 4 ascends so that the button 5 will first hit the cap 13 and elevate the tube somewhat so that the cap will be yieldingly clamped between the button 5 and the hooks I5. Thereby the tube will be held erect in the case where the tube does not fit the carrier I closely so that said tube will be exactly coaxial with the material delivery spout or pipe 3. When the spindle 4 moves further in an upward direction the holder I4 is lifted and the spring I'I will yieldingly retain the cap B of the tube between the button 5 and the hooks I5. Thereby the tube is raised through the carrier I and placed onto the spout 3. As the tube Ais held by the elevator membersin a correct vertical position any special tube guides hitherto carriers I can be short and wide so that the empty tubes may be easily inserted by hand into them.

Whilst material is being supplied, the tube is gradually lowered and withdrawn from the pipe 3 by a downward movement of the spindle 4.

This withdrawal is efiected positively by the hooks I5 which ensures that the tube does not stick to the pipe 3 but it is safely drawn off the latter. The downward movement of the tube A can be regulated as desired by suitably shaping the cam disc I3. As rotary movement of the spindle 4 is positively prevented and as the tube cap is clamped by the pincher mechanism formed by the button 5 and the hooks l5 with a suificient yielding pressure, the tube A cannot turn about its axis when being moved by the elevator mechanism. This may be particularly important where the angular position of the tube relative to the conveyor has been previously definedwith respect to a print, label or the like on the tube. ,r When the spindle 4 has been moved downwardly so that the holder I4 again rests on the guide I 9 the holder M will yield and the pincher mechanism will assume the position shown in Fig; 1,

whereafter the conveyor 2 moves the holder l together with the filled tube in a sidewise direction out of the elevator mechanism. The operation is then repeated in the next tube to be filled.

I claim:

1; In an apparatus for elevating capped tubes or similar containers, a longitudinally movable spindle, a supporting memberon an end of said spindle, fa ringon said spindle, a yielding means enclosing said spindle between said supporting member and said ring to urge said ring away from said supporting member, and hooks secured to said ring and projecting inwardly beyond said supporting member.

'2. In an apparatus for elevating capped tubes or similar containers, a longitudinally movable spindle, a supporting member on an end'of said spindle, a ring on said spindle, a contractile spring on said spindle interposed between said support: ing member and said ring to urge said ring away from said supporting member, and'hooks secured to said ring and projecting inwardly beyond said supporting member.

3. In an apparatus'for elevating capped tubes 7 or similar containers, a stationary guide, a spinsaid ring against'said guide, and hooks secured to said ring and projecting inwardly beyond said 7 supporting member.

4. In an apparatus for elevating capped tubes or similar containers, a stationary guide, a supportingspindle axially movable in said guide, a ring axially movable on said spindle, and hooks secured to said ring and'projecting inwardly beyond the end of said spindle.

5. In an apparatusfor elevating capped tubes or similar containers'a' longitudinally movable supporting spindle, amember axially movable on said spindle, and hooks on said member, said hooks projecting inwardly beyond an end of said spindle.

BROREMIL. JOHNSON. 

